These buttons will allow you to navigate the onscreen menu. I like the easy access to contrast and brightness controls. The turbo button, allows you to use preset contrast and brightness settings with the available modes, Picture mode, Text mode, and Economy Mode. One of the nicer features this monitor has is the Auto/Exit button, this button will auto adjust the monitor's settings to give you the clearest picture possible. I have to really say I was a little disappointed that they didn't have buttons to control the sound for the built in speakers; you have to do that through the onscreen menu.

This monitor does have speakers. But don't throw out your 5.1 setup just yet. Remember this is a monitor not a subwoofer. These tiny speakers are really only necessary if you don't have any other speakers for your computer. Or if you really want to add that extra 2 watts to your current setup. And since these speakers have no bass support. It's like listening to an am/fm radio. But to cut costs for a workstation, these will work perfectly.

MONITOR PERFORMANCE

I will admit that before receiving this monitor, there was a part of me that was skeptical that this monitor would be worth the money. But like I said, CTX International really impressed me with this monitor. This monitor does its job, and does it well. Whether typing up an essay, or playing your favorite video game. You can rely on this monitor to give you a great picture.

Upon boot of your system, it's like really experiencing your computer for the first time. You notice on your desktop that icons and text appear with surgical precision. I find myself within hair length of the screen in disbelief of the clarity. You have the ability to see every single pixel on the screen. It's almost indescribable. Adjusting to the desktop was simple.

If you use imaging software on a regular basis. This is where you will notice a difference on an even bigger scale. Pictures are significantly sharper. When using Photoshop I often second guess using the sharpen tool. Because unlike a CRT monitor the LCD makes it seem as if it already is.

Even though you may not be looking for a monitor that is reliable when gaming. This is an important aspect to a lot of people who are currently monitor shopping. This monitor has a 14ms response time, which means you can get your game on with out looking for ghosting. Because you won't find any. I have played a number of newer games using this monitor and even though the price is low, the quality is quite the opposite. CTX impressed me again.

Playing games like Call of Duty, and Counterstrike absolutely blew me away. Details on characters and environments are more detailed now then ever. It's often that I can spot at farther distances with greater ease. If you plan on gaming with this LCD and you are bother by jagged edges I'd recommend you turn anti-aliasing on because the monitor does not have the natural softness of a CRT monitor, even though the game play will be just as smooth.